I Am Unpredictable (Book 3)

Chapter Twenty Two: V is for Vexatious

The sound of doors being slammed shut scares me a little. Usually, that's either a signal of "leave me (or us) alone" or "you're an asshole", but I struggle with differentiating between the two. Do you have any idea on how many times I've shouted "You mad, bro?" after hearing someone slam a door shut, only to hear "No, you freaking idiot!" as my response?

Too many times. Waaaaay too many times.

I slowly creep up the stairs to avoid that scenario from happening once more. One of the doors just slammed shut, and I know that both Kyle and Jake are over, so the "you're an asshole" door-slamming is still a possibility.

I head towards Tyler's closed bedroom door and lean my ear against it, hoping to hear what's going on. They're pretty silent, that is, until I hear a slightly feminine voice blurt, "You're such a dumb ass."

Jake.

"Proud to be one!" another voice cheers, ending the statement with a smooching sound.

Tyler. Then a kiss.

"Gaaaaaaaay," a third voice, different from the first two, says, laughing.

Asshole Kyle.

As much of an asshole he can be, I couldn't help but laugh at his comment. I must've been laughing a little too loud because the bedroom rapidly opens.

"May I help you?" 

I quickly look up, making eye contact with Tyler. In the background, sitting on his bed, are Jake and Kyle, both of their eyes being glued to their phones in their hands. 

"Oh, I uh..." I hesitate to answer his question. "I heard doors being slammed shut, so I was just checking to make sure that everything is okay."

"We're all fine." Tyler sighs, looking down at the floor. He bites his lip, then glances back at me. "Do you wanna come in?"

Of course, because I love being put in the same room as a total asshole, my older brother, and his overly-attached boyfriend.

I decline the offer. "No thanks."

He furrows his eyebrows in confusion. "Are you sure?" I nod.

"Come on, Tyler!" Kyle hollers in the distance. "I need you, man."

How is it that Kyle hated Tyler, and then all of a sudden, he needs him? 

"Just come in, goddammit." Tyler grabs my wrist and pulls me into his room, closing the door behind him. "You might come in handy."

Should I be scared?

"He's the smart one, right?" Jake asks Tyler, making me laugh.

"He is." Tyler plops down on the bed, sitting down to Jake's right. 

As Tyler rests his head on Jake's shoulder, Jake hollers, "SHIT!"

Okay, now I'm scared.

"I pressed the wrong freaking answer!" Jake drops his phone onto the bed. "I'm so sick of Trivia Crack!"

"Yet you still play it," Tyler mumbles, causing Jake to give him a dirty glare.

So, all of this rage was over Trivia Crack? The door slamming, the swearing, and the screaming are all clear signs of being fed up with a stupid mobile phone game.

I happen to be very good at Trivia Crack, which is most likely why Kyle and Jake wanted me here in the first place. I'm very good at the Science category, the Entertainment category, and of course, the Sports category.

Clearly, Jake sucks at Trivia Crack.

I stay standing at the door, only because there isn't enough room to sit down on Tyler's bed. I really really don't feel like being in the same room as Kyle Matthews. I don't have a problem with Jake—he's perfectly fine. I'm afraid that Kyle is going to say something about me that may or may not be the nicest thing to say.